USA > Ohio > History of the Ohio falls cities and their counties : with illustrations and bibliographical sketches, Vol. II > Part 93
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General Clark has now become frail and rather helpless, but there are the remains of great dignity and manliness in his countenance, person, and deportment, and I was struck on seeing him with (perhaps) a fancied likeness to the great and immortal Washington.
Immediately above Clark's Point it is said the canal is to return to the river, making a distance of about two miles. There appears to be no doubt but that this canal will be opened.
Espy's prognostication as to the ship canal on the Indiana side was destined to share the fate of the brilliant hopes entertained of Clarksville.
Ashe, the English romancer, gives this place in 1808, a brief note in his book of Travels in America, as "a small settlement lying near the eddy formed by the recoiling flood. It is as yet a village of no importance. However, if it forms the mouth of the intended canal, its rise is cer- tain."
Mr. John Palmer, in his Journal of Travels in the United States, recording his journeyings of 1817, said :
Clarksville lies at the lower end of the falls, and, although commenced as early as 1783, does not contain above forty
houses, most of them old and decayed. It has a safe, capa- cious harbor for boats.
In Dr. McMurtrie's Sketches of Louisville, published in 1819, the following not over-flatter- ing notice is given of Clarksville :
Although this was one of the earliest settled places in the State of Indiana, being established in 1783 by the Legisla- ture of Virginia, as part of the Illinois Grant, yet it is at the present moment far behind them all in every possible respect. A few log-houses of one story comprise the list of its dwell- ings, and from their number and appearance I should sup- pose that they do not contain altogether one hundred inhabit- ants. It is, however, pleasantly situated at the foot of the Indian Chute, and immediately opposite Shippingport. It is said to be very unhealthy, which is more than probable, from the number of marshes that are in the vicinity.
The very next year, however, when the Ohio and Mississippi Pilot was published, Clarksville was deemed of sufficient importance, as com- pared with its neighbors, Jeffersonville and New Albany, to be marked upon the chart of the falls inserted in that book as the only town upon the Indiana side.
OHIO FALLS CITY.
The growth of the manufacturing interests at and near the west end of Jeffersonville naturally brought the vicinity many workmen, and in r874 a plat was surveyed extending each side of the fill made for the Jefferson, Madison & In- dianapolis railroad as it approaches the river. This plat was made in 1874 by Smith & Smyser, and during the same year L. S. Shuler and John B. Temple laid out additions to the original plat. The town was duly established and incorporated as Falls City, but a decision of the supreme court of the State prevented the continuance of the incorporation, as it encroached on the original plat of Clarksville. It is, therefore, a question whether there is such a place as Falls City in In- diana, though the settlement retains that name.
In Ohio Falls City are located the extensive works of the Ohio Falls Car company, the State Prison South, the Falls Power Milling company, and other minor works. The population is more than one thousand, and is made up of an in- dustrious, hard-working class of men, who are not able to make a show of fine residences, but most of whom occupy comfortable little homes.
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
CHAPTER XXXIII.' UNION TOWNSHIP.
ORGANIZATION.
This township, covering an area of nearly thirteen thousand acres, occupies the central por- tion of the county, and according to the census of 1880 has a population of more than eight hundred souls. It was organized in September, 1858, mainly through the efforts of Colonel John Carr. It is the newest of all the townships of the county, and takes its name from the fact that it was made up from a union of parts of other townships. Monroe bounds it on the north, except a narrow strip on the east side, where the township of Charlestown forms also the eastern boundary ; the townships of Carr and Charlestown bound it on the south; Monroe and Carr from the western boundary. The township as it now is, was created out of Monroe, Charlestown, and Carr townships. The extreme northern end of Silver Creek township and the extreme southern corner of Union unite in the middle of Silver creek near the southwest corner of tract number one hundred and sixty six ; also the extreme portions of Carr and Charlestown townships-the only instance of the kind in the county.
TOPOGRAPHY.
The township can hardly be said to have a generous supply of rich soils, fine forests, or con- tinuity of surface. There has always been a scarcity of good timber from the earliest times on the uplands, though oak, poplar, ash, and hickory grew in tolerable quantities along the bottoms. The climate is admirably adapted to good health, deduced from the fact that there is but one physician in the township. West of Memphis, in the Blue Lick country, the soil is favorable to the growing of grass, where also large dairies are in active operation. Farther be- yond, but still within the township, the ascent is begun to reach the top of the knobs. From their summits a wild and picturesque view pre- sents itself. South of the township village the country is mostly level, but the soil is stubborn. For some reason or other these bottoms are not productive unless cared for very kindly. All the land east of Silver creek is gently undulating, except perhaps a few hundred acres in the north- east corner, where the surface is hilly and the
soil of the poorest quality. Some portions of the township, however, are quite productive, but only of small areas, where hay, oats, corn, wheat, rye, potatoes, patches of tobacco now and then, and apples, are the chief products. Stock- growing has been made quite successful by some of the citizens of Union, while others have found the production and sale of milk equally profit- able. The Blue Lick country is underlaid with the slate formations which form so large a strata in this and adjoining townships. West of tract number one hundred and sixty-nine, the New Albany black slate appears in great force and continues in an unbroken leaf in the direction of Memphis, were the north branch of Silver creek, as at Eben Coomb's mill, cuts through it to the depth of eighty-five feet. The highlands around Memphis are visibly affected by the slate strata. The soils in the Blue lick region are de- rived mainly from the formation designated as the New Providence shale. This is a soft, light- colored arenaceous clay stone, containing some sulphate and carbonate of lime and magnesia. It is well exposed at Thomas McDeitz's tract, number two hundred and nineteen, and on Blue Lick branch, Cany fork, and Cane run of Silver creek, at the base of the knobs, and at Allen Taylor's, Esq., the foot of Round Top knob, at Sampson King's, and at William Stone's. In many of these localities this shale is rich in frag- ments of crinoidal stems and fossil shells, and several species of very delicate Bryozoa. The thin sections of crinoidal stems are disks with a hole in the center, resembling button-molds. These fossils are found in great abundance on the surface, where the shale has been cut through by small streams. Such places are commonly called "Button-mold Washes." This formation also follows the North fork and Miller's fork of Silver creek, north and west of Henryville. The best sulphur spring known in Clark county is lo- cated on the land of J. A. Boyer, tract number two hundred and forty-one, one and a half miles east of Henryville, the village of which is situ- ated forty feet below the summit of the New Albany black slate. The soil in this region, so far as it relates to the knobs is clay, belonging to the altered drift and alluvium in the creek bot- toms. Persimmon trees abound in the low lands, as also they do in many other parts of the county. The altered drift is here characterized
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
by containing a number of thin markings of black sand, which are seen in the cuts after a washing rain.
Union township is noted for its purity of water. Many fine springs gush forth from under the slate strata; during the excessive dry weather of 1881 there was generally a plentiful supply of water found in the Blue Lick country. There is scarcely a farm of any size in this section without running water during an ordinary season. The mineral water mentioned under the head of New Providence shale, issues from this slate at the foot of the knobs. Almost all the water in this horizon is impregnated more or less with mineral salts derived from the overlying New Providence shale. Water entirely free from medicinal prop- erties is the exception, and pure water for culinary purposes is difficult to obtain. It can only be found by sinking shallow wells in the sand and gravel along the streams. A very good quality of this mineral water is found on the land of Parady Payne, west of Blue Lick post-office, tract number two hundred and sixty-six. Another medicinal spring, containing similar properties to that at Mr. Payne's, is found on Mr. Hosea's land south of the springs in Monroe township. On the lands of Augustus Reid and Sampson King are to be found springs of the same min- eral water; also on the lands of William Stone and Washington P. Butts, in Carr township; also west of Henryville, on the land of John Stewart. The New Providence shale is eroded on tract number two hundred and sixty-six to the depth of sixty to seventy feet, and is entirely wanting at various points three miles east .*
STREAMS.
Silver creek is the principal stream in the township, flowing entirely through it from north to south. Blue Lick creek is the largest tribu- tary. It flows easterly through the northern por- tion of Union, and takes its name from the blue slate which forms its bottom. Land in this sec- tion sells from $35 to $50 per acre, and much of it when cleared would not be profitably product- ive. Sinking fork of Silver creek, in the eastern side of the township, has a peculiarity in the dis- appearance of its water into a hole about four feet in diameter, which leads to a subterranean cavern below. The run is for about one mile
under ground, when it again appears and empties into Silver creek. If history be true, two men several years ago made a trip through the cavern, and came out safe with an experience which few scientists can claim. Half way from the en- trance a sink-hole leads to the stream twenty feet below the surface. Here is a large room, but which soon diminishes as you approach the lower end. From the mouth to the sink-hole the way is clear and easily traveled by ordinary persons. It was from these peculiarities that the stream was called Sinking fork. Another fact relating to the streams of this township, which is also true in the rest of the county, is that in early times Silver creek was seldom known to over- flow its banks. The timber formed basins which held the water for several days after a severe rain, to run off in time in a gradual manner. Crops were never damaged sixty years ago on account of high waters. As the forests are cleared away, the streams continually widen. There was a time when Silver creek could be stepped over at almost any time of the year, or at least the flow of the water was regular and uniform.
COPPERAS BED.
One of the most remarkable copperas beds in the county is found in the vicinity of Memphis. It is located on Silver creek, two miles above the township village. The creek, in passing by, is bounded by a slate bluff some sixty or seventy feet high. On this bluff are spruce pines, per- haps the only natural growth in the county. From between the crevices of the slate the copperas exudes in a liquid state, to crystalize in lumps. In early times the pioneers used it for coloring purposes when making their clothing. The quantity was never thought sufficient for working. Above in the banks is a substance which often takes fire and burns for months. It is perhaps a poor quality of coal which is sometimes found in this county.
INDIANS.
Previous to General Harrison's victory at Tip- pecanoe, the Indians were frequent marauders in this township. However, there were never any open hostile demonstrations, except those already mentioned in the history of the Pigeon Roost massacre found in Monroe township. In 1794, when General Anthony Wayne defeated the Indians at Fort Recovery, the border in this
* These notes are in part from the Geological Survey of the county.
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
county was exposed to the ravages of the red- man. These and other circumstances caused much uneasiness on the part of the settlers from time to time as to their personal safety. It was no unfrequent thing to lose a horse, and to have the safe keeping of stock disturbed in numerous ways.
One of the forts erected to protect the frontier stood on the farm now owned by William Reed, south of Memphis two miles. Another occupied a site east of the same village one mile. A large block-house was erected, during the troublesome times of the Pigeon Roost massacre, on the farm of Jonathan Jennings, two and a half miles south of Memphis. The old homestead formerly be- longed to Charlestown township, but now to Union. Harrod's fort was on Silver creek, on a little eminence close by the present iron bridge. Many of the people lived here, taking in their horses and cattle. There are now no remnants of the old fort left. A few apple trees mark the location.
ROADS.
The Charlestown and Salem road, from the county-seats of Washington and Clark Counties, was one of the oldest in this end of the State. It passed through this township near the center, rather north of Memphis, which point was made quite a stopping place for travelers. Before there were any highways established by the State or county an Indian trace ran from the Falls of the Ohio past the ancient village of Springville, which place was a great trading-post in an early day, on to Memphis, on the east side of the vil- lage, passed through the neighborhood of the Pigeon Roost settlement, and terminated on the White river near where Indianapolis now stands. This was simply a path which led in a devious way from one point to another, and which was a great thoroughfare to the Ohio river and the Falls. There was another trace a mile west of Memphis running from the Ohio to Kaskaskia. These two roads, if such they can be called in this age of steamboats, railroads, and electricity, had much to do with the building and location of Memphis. Besides the Charlestown and Salem road, there was another which ran to Brownstown in Jackson county. Quite soon after this road was built a road was created leav- ing the Charlestown road and intersecting the Brownstown road near Henryville.
This intersection made the distance from Charlestown to Brownstown more direct. The road was built in about the year 1835. At this time there are roads diverging from Memphis in all directions. The Jeffersonville road is used perhaps more than any other in the county. Most of the travel from the counties of Washing- ton, Scott, and Jackson take this thoroughfare to the cities of the Falls.
The Jeffersonville, Madison & Indianapolis railroad, which passes directly through the town- ship from north to south to the distance of five miles, was surveyed several times before its final location. There were made by the citizens along the route donations of land and money, and the people in this township were not far be- hind in the work. Many, however, considered " the locomotive an intruder, and have never re- alized the benefiting influences which it brought. The success of this railroad is due largely to the war, for which it did a great business-at that time the only direct line from the interior of In- diana to the Falls, and from thence to the heart of the enemy's country.
MILLS.
At an early day Seymour Guernsey, Sr., built a horse-mill in the Blue Lick settlement. People who lived miles away were compelled to take their corn to this mill to have it ground ; and it sometimes happened when the mill was thronged that persons living at a distance of several miles could not get their grinding the same day. In staying over night they often passed their time in an adjoining hay-loft.
Many amusing incidents occurred at this mill, one of which we will relate: Charles Durment and Richard Branam found it convenient one time to stay over night. It was warm weather. A setting hen happened to occupy the hay-loft on the same occason, and they not knowing it laid down to sleep. During the night Branam received a savage peck on the back of his hand. He supposed it was a snake and became terribly frightened, imagining he could see his arm swel- ling by the light of the moon. He said to Dur- ment: "I want to see my wife and children once more before I die. Let's go home." About this time Durment's hand happened to come in contact with the hen, and he received a peck. Immediately he caught the old hen by the neck,
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
throwing her out of the loft with the remark: "Here, Branam, is your snake." His reply was: "Dang the old hen!"
Guernsey's horse-mill is a thing of the past. Horse power in this respect has been superseded by water and steam. During the first years of settlement large quantities of buckwheat were raised by the Yankees, who in many places made up a large portion of the settlers. All this grind- ing was done in a manner similar to that of corn and wheat. The yield was often as much as forty bushels per acre, but the average was about twenty bushels. Buckwheat was often used for feed in the place of corn, many farmers claiming it was better and cheaper. The old-fashioned stationary saw-mill, of which there have been 'several, have been replaced by circular saw-mills. If we contrast the present and the past, improve- ment is to be seen in every direction. Log cab- ins have given way to the neater and more con- venient dwellings of to-day. Horse-mills are superseded by merchant mills, driven by water and steam. We no longer haul our logs for miles to the sash saw-mills. The portable saw is taken to our lumber forests. The farmer no longer employs the old sickle or reap hook to harvest his grain, but cuts it by horse-power. The mower and the sulky rake make his harvest a pleasant task. And the tools used by our me- chanics have also been greatly improved. The motto of to-day is improvement. Let the citi- zens of Union be thankful that their lots have been cast in a pleasant place, and live striving to make each other happy.
Another of the first grist-mills in the township stood on the bank of Silver creek, erected by a Mr. Bullett. It has long since disappeared.
In 1825 George Barnes carried on distilling on Silver creek east of Memphis. His principal hand was William Patrick, a man of recognized ability throughout the neighborhood in which he lived. Mr. Barnes finally sold out the machin- ery, and the distillery has long since disappeared. "A most remarkable circumstance," says one authority, "is that there were no private stills in this township in 1825," which, perhaps, is hardly to be accepted.
About 1832 a Mr. Sickles built an undershot grist-mill on Silver creek, opposite the copperas banks. After several years of work, during which time it was repaired and changed proprie.
tors, it came to be known as Carr's mill. This mill did the custom work of the neighborhood for forty years. The last miller was John Burk- ett. The house is yet standing, except the saw- mill, which is partly gone.
The first mill in sight of Memphis was built in 1845 by Joseph Carr, one of the early settlers of the county. It is said that Mr. Carr made the first powder in southern Indiana. Carr's old mill site is now occupied by the firm of John D. Coombs & Brother, with one of the best mills in the country. The Carr mill passed through vari- ous hands before it arrived at its present owner- ship.
Ezra Leeds built a saw-mill in the western part of the township in 1860. He ran it for several years, grinding some corn along with the sawing. The mill went down in 1870, and now nothing remains but the skeleton or framework.
In the pioneer period of this county flour was bolted by hand. There was no system of ele- vators. After the flour was ground it was car- ried up stairs on the backs of men and emptied into the bolts, which were turned by hand-power. When the work of bolting was completed the flour was taken out of a box below; the bran ran out of the lower end of the bolt. The mode of making flour has undergone a radical change during the last fifty years.
POST-OFFICES.
There are three post-offices in the township, viz : Blue Lick, Memphis, and Slate Cut. Many years before Memphis was laid out a post-road ran from Charlestown to Salem in Washington county. A number of citizens living in the vicinity of Blue Lick desiring more convenient facilities for securing their mail, applied for a post-office by petition, and the request was grant- ed. The first office in the township was at Sylvan Grove, one-quarter of a mile south of Memphis, on the route which led from Charlestown to Bedford, in Lawrence county, Indiana. The office was established in 1847, with John Y. Wier as the first postmaster, and who held the office for many years. Some time in 1860 this route was abolished and the office taken to Memphis. The old route now extends from the township village to Chestnut Hill, in Washington county, with a tri-weekly mail. The first postmaster in Memphis was J. F. McDeitz; then came U. S.
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
Reynolds, A. P. Jackson, Daniel Guernsey, and John D. Coombs, who is the present incumbent.
Slate Cut post-office was established recently, with Isaac Perry as postmaster.
Blue Lick was established about 1842 by the efforts of the Thompsons, Guernseys, McDietzes, Kelleys and Hawses, with Thomas McDietz, Sr., as the postmaster. Thomas McDietz, Jr., is in charge at present. 'This office accommodates a large scope of country, but the people are gener- ally not great letter-writers, relying mostly on the weekly newspaper for information.
CHURCHES.
There are two societies of the Methodist Epis- copal church in the township; one meets at Ebenezer, in the western part of the township, and the other at Memphis. The class at Eben- ezer was formed about 1840, under the labors of Rev. Isaac Owen. Among the first members were George Durment, William and James Whitesides, and Francis Durment. Somewhere about 1840 a Methodist class was organized at Bowery chapel, near Blue Lick, but it is now disbanded.
There are three Christian churches in the township: one worships at Macedonia, in the western portion of Union; one at Gum Log, and the other at Memphis. The society meeting at Macedonia was organized in 1854, under the ministerial labors of Elder Wesley Hartley. Some of the original members were John D. Carr, Reiley Harrell, and John Brooks. The Gum Log class was organized in 1860, under the labors of Elder Wardman Scott. Both of these churches are in a flourishing condition.
SCHOOLS.
The law enacted by the State Legislature in 1859, providing for one township trustee, ushered in a new era of governing schools. Previous to this time when the first board of trustees entered upon their duties, the schools in what is now Union, were included in the adjoining townships. In 1825 a hewed log school-house stood one mile southeast of Memphis, on the Charlestown road. It went by the name of the Wehsterian school. The first teacher was James L. Harris. Harlow Hard followed for three or four years. From this time there were various teachers, many of whom have already been mentioned in the school history of adjoining townships. In
1858 or 1860 the house was sold to Joseph Lee, who, in making the turn, used the logs for build- ing a stable. The law creating school districts changed the location of the Websterian school. It is now known as district number one, of Union.
Pennsylvania district number two was practic- ally located about thirty-five years ago, the original building being a log house. The present school- house is a frame.
Fairview school comes next in age, which is known as district number five. District number six was then set apart, followed by Palinview number three. The village of Memphis is known as district number seven. All the school buildings in the township are frame.
BURYING-GROUNDS.
One mile northwest of Memphis, near where Rev. Barzilla Willey formerly lived, is an old grave- yard, established about fifty years ago. Mr. Willey gave the land for the church also, which occupied a site near the burying-ground. This church belonged to the Methodists, Mr. Willey being one of their early preachers in this section. The old church is now used for a dwelling- house.
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